Dutchtown lineman Lloyd Cushenberry commits to South Carolina

Dutchtown lineman to join University’s Jackson at USC

Advocate staff photo by APRIL BUFFINGTON -- Malcolm Eisley drinks some water along with his teammates during practice at Broadmoor High on Tuesday, August 4.

Dutchtown High offensive lineman Lloyd Cushenberry committed to South Carolina on Thursday night.

The 6-foot-5, 315-pound Cushenberry earned second-team All-District 5-5A honors for the Griffins as a junior. He said his other finalists were Louisiana Tech and Tulane. Cushenberry plans to major in sports management.

“I really wanted to get it (the college decision) out of the way before the season started,” Cushenberry said. “I went to (South Carolina’s) prospects camp in June and really liked it. That’s when they offered me. I think it’s a great place to play and for me to continue my education.”

Cushenberry is the second Baton Rouge area senior to commit to the Gamecocks this summer. University High wide receiver Tre Jackson committed to South Carolina last month.

“I don’t really know him (Jackson),” Cushenberry said. “It should be pretty nice to have two guys from the same area play there.”

Heat planning

Assistant Executive Director Keith Alexander said the LHSAA is working with its Sports Medicine Advisory Committee to put together a directive for schools going into a week of projected triple-digit temperatures and higher heat indexes.

“We don’t have rules that dictate what schools have to do at specific temperatures,” Alexander said. “What we can do is offer some basic guidelines for people to follow.

“It’s going to be hot everywhere. But it actually looks like the heat index may be higher in places like Alexandria, Monroe and Ruston than it will be in most places in South Louisiana.”

The LHSAA directive is expected to be released Friday afternoon. Alexander noted that football players are allowed to work out in helmets and should pads from Monday through Wednesday. The first day players can wear full gear is Thursday, Aug. 13, according to the LHSAA handbook.

The Weather Channel and other sources project temperatures in the Baton Rouge area ranging from 99 to 103 through Aug. 15. The highest forecast calls for temperature of 103 on Monday.

“Before school starts you can practice early in the morning,” Alexander said. “With most people in school by Monday they’ll have to do some other things. It’s probably not bad idea to move those practices back an hour or two if you can.”

Alexander said the temperatures and elevated heat indexes could impact the Louisiana High School Officials Association’s statewide football officials clinic set for Aug. 14-15 at Tioga High.

“We’re supposed have games start at 4 p.m. and go through 8 p.m. at the clinic,” Alexander said. “We may have to reconsider, depending on how hot it gets.”

Turf times

Even though temperatures are rising, Zachary High has an interesting fringe benefit with its newly installed artificial turf field, coach David Brewerton said.

“Believe it or not, it’s cooler than the turf field we had before,” Brewerton said. “We got on it for the first time this week and the kids really like it.”

Meanwhile, installation of Walker High’s artificial turf continues. The project is scheduled for completion by Aug. 15. The goal posts went up Monday.